Anchored safety barrier

ABSTRACT

A barrier system located between an access area such as a road and an adjoining hazard has barrier elements mounted on posts secured to inwardly directed, buried and anchored beam members, which extend below the surface of the access area. The posts may be cantilevered from the beams, with bracing means connecting the system members. The post, beam and its anchor members may be pivotally linked, so as to be foldable. The beam anchor may be a cable connected beneath the road to an oppositely located beam and post. The posts can project below the beam support means, and can have stabilizing blades near their lower ends. Posts can be made withdrawable, and can be cross-braced to adjacent posts.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable (N/A)

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

(N/A)

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING

(N/A)

COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

(N/A)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. This invention is directed to a safety barrier system, and in particular to a barrier anchorage system for use in hazardous, environmentally difficult circumstances.

2. Many accessible traveled areas or surfaces such as roads, paths and parking areas are bounded by soft land, steep declines and shoulders, or border on water or precipices where the terrain makes the provision of safety barriers both imperative, and next-to-impossible to provide.

In one location in Ontario, Canada a narrow, twisting, much traveled road is bounded on one side by a canal, in an area that is subject to rain, snow and even black ice, such that several fatalities have occurred over the years, with vehicles leaving the road and crashing down the steep canal bank, through the ice, when present, and into the water, where some occupants have drowned. The absence of an effective shoulder, the steepness of the decline to the water, and the softness of the soil have prevented the use of traditional roadside barriers, and no effective solution has been put into practice to save lives.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a barrier system for use between an access area and an adjacent environmental hazard, the system having elongated barrier elements supported upon upstanding posts, wherein the posts are each individually secured to post support means, each support means having an inwardly directed beam member extending beneath the surface of the access area, to retain the posts in predetermined, positioned relation with the access area

The subject barrier system includes anchor means extending beneath the surface and secured to the beam member, to secure the beam member substantially immovable.

In one embodiment the post is in cantilevered, substantially rigid secured relation with and extending upwardly substantially at right-angles from the beam.

This embodiment may include bracing means extending between the post and the beam member; and having the anchor means extending substantially at right-angles from the beam member, and substantially parallel with the surface of the area.

This barrier embodiment may also include bracing means extending between the beam and the anchor means, with the beam member being buried beneath the surface of the access area at a substantially predetermined depth. A suitable layer of concrete may be used to further secure the barrier anchorage.

In other embodiments, the post portion may extend downwardly below the level of the beam, into the substrata, to further stabilize the assembly when ground conditions are suitable. This depending post portion may include blade portions at its lower end, oriented at right angles to the beam portion, to furnish enhanced ground resistance to further stabilize the assembly, particularly against impact loads hitting the barrier.

The term “access area” is applied to roads, paths and areas accessed by the public, whether paved or unpaved, and where the terrain is ill-adapted for the effective installation of orthodox fencing, supported simply upon fence posts.

In several embodiments the anchor means extends substantially at right-angles from the beam member, and is substantially parallel with the surface of the area In another embodiment the anchor means is directed downwardly from the beam member inner end. In a further embodiment the post, beam and anchor members are pivotally linked together, enabling them to be compactly folded for easier transportation.

Burial of the beam member and its anchoring means beneath the surface of the access area at a substantial, predetermined depth, with a concrete and roadbed cover gives additional stability to the system.

The barrier posts may be erected in back-to-back pairs, located on opposite sides of a road or path and having cable means crossing under the road or path in connecting, load transfer relation between the respective support means of the two, spaced-apart posts.

In a further embodiment, the supporting beam may have an end recess into which the barrier post is withdrawably inserted. This recess may consist of a pair of plates or flanges between which the post is inserted. The post may include a stop flange. Alternatively, the outer end of the beam may have the top and bottom plates cut away to form a slotted recess to receive the post, which is pinned to the beam recess side flanges. Inclined cross-bracing means connecting an upper end portion of a post with a lower connection point of another post serves to stabilize the barrier, and to transfer impact loading to the barrier beams and support system. The outermost ones of the posts of a barrier are braced outwardly to ground-anchor means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated, by way of example, without limitation of the invention thereto, other than as set forth in the accompanying claims; it being understood that further embodiments may be derived by one skilled in the art. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first barrier embodiment in basic form:

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first barrier embodiment in modified form;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a FIG. 1 folding embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an artists perspective view of a road construction incorporating braced versions of the FIG. 1 embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation of a road site incorporating a second barrier embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an elevational perspective of a post/beam portion of an embodiment with footing fins;

FIG. 7 is a perspective elevation of a beam portion with a removable post;

FIG. 7A is a perspective side view of a slotted beam outer end portion to receive a post; and,

FIG. 8 is a schematic side elevation showing a portion of a further barrier embodiment incorporating post-to-post side bracing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a barrier post assembly 10 having an upright post portion 12 attached to a beam portion 14. The beam portion 14 has a transversely extending co-planar anchor portion 16.

The assemblies 10 are positioned with the post portions 12 located at the desired boundary, such as the edge of a road that lies adjacent a hazard, such as a body of water, a steep decline or the like, with the beam portion 14 extending away from the hazard.

The beam portion 14 and its associated anchor portion 16 are buried at a predetermined depth beneath the surface of the road, being preferably embedded in cement.

In the FIG. 2 embodiment 20, the post portion 22 has a depending extension portion 23 (illustrated in phantom) that is driven into the border strata, to provide stabilizing reaction force to counter the anti-clockwise bending moment produced by an outward impact in the direction P against post portion 22. This serves also to diminish the bending moments acting on the beam portion 24.

Also illustrated by phantom lines in FIG. 2 are alternative or supplementary anchor means 26 which comprise a vertical spur. This may be better suited to certain situations or terrains than the horizontal anchor arms 16 of FIG. 1, where vertical boring is more feasible or cheaper.

Referring to FIG. 3, a barrier post assembly 30 related to the FIG. 1 embodiment has an upright post portion 32 pivotally attached to a beam portion 34, which has two pivotally attached transversely extending co-planar anchor portion 36. The pivotal attachments are provided by pairs of pivot links 38, which enable the folding of the post assembly 30 into a compact, readily handled, packaged and transported unit.

Turning to FIG. 4, in the construction or rebuilding of a road beside a substantially unprotected water hazard, barrier post assemblies 40 are located in mutually spaced relation along, and integrated into the fabric of the road. The post portions 42 and anchor portions 46 are braced to the beam portions 44 by way of corner braces 48. Barrier members 49 are attached to, and extend between post portions 42, to complete the barrier.

Referring to FIG. 5, a pair of post assemblies 50 are shown, located on opposite sides of a travelled way (which could include a railroad embankment). Each assembly 50 has an extended post portion 52, an inwardly extending hollow beam portion 54, which may be of thick-walled pipe, and a tensioned cable 56 extending therebetween. The cable 56 may have threaded rod ends, to which tension adjuster nuts 57 are applied, by means of which anchoring force may be applied to the pair of post assemblies 50. Where an open trench is used across the way to install the system, a turnbuckle may be incorporated to adjust the length of the cable 56. Where a predetermined standardized length of cable is used, a protective sleeve may be employed to protect the cable against degradation.

It will be understood that the term cable includes synthetic engineered plastic filaments and the like, in plain or cable form.

Referring to FIG. 6, a post and beam assembly 60, which is adaptable to any of the foregoing barrier post assemblies, has a post portion 62, and a hollow beam portion 64, both of which are shown foreshortened for convenience of illustration. The post portion 62 has a depending extension portion 63, having blade portions 65 at its lower end, oriented to finish enhanced ground resistance to further stabilize the barrier post assembly.

Referring to FIG. 7, a post and beam assembly 70 has a replaceable post portion 72 and a beam portion 74 with a pair of post brackets 76 projecting outwardly from the outer end, being sized to receive the post portion 72 in downwardly inserted relation therein. The post portion 72 has an annular stop plate, which rests upon the upper one of the post brackets 76, to provide predetermined extents of post downward projection and upward extension. It will be understood that this embodiment is compatible with the foregoing beam and anchor embodiments, except those of FIGS. 5 and 6.

Alternatively, the outer end of the beam 74 may have the top and bottom plates cut away, so that the sides 75 form a slotted recess, having apertures 77 to receive a transversely inserted shear pin (not shown). A post 72 is slid into the recess and pinned to the slot sides 75 by the inserted shear pin.

Turning to FIG. 8, looking inwardly to a road having a stretch of safety barrier therealong, the barrier 80 is illustrated as having three post portions 82 mounted upon beams (not seen). The lower, buried extension portions 83 of the post portions 82, which portions 83 extend below the level of the beam member portions, are shown in dashed lines. Elongated barrier elements 84 are attached to and connect the post portions 82.

Cross brace members 86 are secured near the top of each post and anchored at or adjacent the post/beam juncture of adjacent posts, to provide stability and load sharing capability between the posts. The end posts of a barrier have their outward top diagonal brace members 86 secured to respective ground anchors. In the event that a vehicle collides with the barrier plates 84, the forces acting along the barrier that tend to collapse it lengthwise, are partially transferred by tensioning of the adjoining crossbrace members 86, with loads transferred to the beam and anchor portions of the system, such that the load is substantially shared along the length of the barrier. 

1. A barrier system for use between an access area and an adjacent environmental hazard, said system having elongated barrier elements supported upon upstanding posts, wherein said posts are each individually secured to post support means, each support means having an inwardly directed beam member extending beneath the surface of said access area, to retain said posts in predetermined, positioned relation with said access area.
 2. The barrier system as set forth in claim 1, including anchor means located beneath said surface and secured to said beam member, to secure said beam member substantially immovable.
 3. The barrier system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said post is in cantilevered, substantially rigid secured relation with and extending upwardly substantially at right-angles from said beam.
 4. The barrier system as set forth in claim 3, including bracing means extending between said post and said beam member.
 5. The barrier system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said anchor means extends substantially at right-angles from said beam member.
 6. The barrier system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said anchor means extends substantially at right-angles from said beam member, and is substantially parallel with the surface of said area.
 7. The barrier system as set forth in claim 5, including bracing means extending between said beam and said anchor means.
 8. The barrier system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said beam member is buried beneath the surface of said access area at a substantially predetermined depth.
 9. The barrier system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said beam and said beam/anchor bracing means are buried beneath the surface of said access area at a substantially predetermined depth.
 10. The barrier system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said anchor means comprises a second upstanding post and second support means, and cable means connected in load transfer relation between said support means and said second support means.
 11. The barrier means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said post extends downwardly below said support means.
 12. The barrier means as set forth in claim 10, said post including stabilizing blade means located near the post lower end.
 13. The barrier means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said posts are withdrawably attached to said post support means.
 14. The barrier means as set forth in claim 13, wherein said posts include stop means to provide predetermined vertical positioning of said posts relative to said support means.
 15. The barrier means as set forth in claim 13, the outer end of said post support means having a recess to receive said post in entered, secured relation therein.
 16. The barrier means as set forth in claim 15, having a beam member of said post support means with top and bottom plate portions of the beam removed, whereby the remaining beam sides form a slotted recess to receive the post in pinned relation to the beam.
 17. The barrier means as set forth in claim 1, including inclined cross-bracing means connecting an upper end portion of one said post with a lower connection point of an adjacent said post.
 18. The barrier means as set forth in claim 17, having a plurality of said posts with said elongated barrier elements supported therebetween; and having said inclined cross bracing means supporting all intermediate ones of said posts in two-directional braced relation, with the outermost ones of said posts braced outwardly to ground-anchor means. 